My last night ended up being really nice. There is a modern-looking place near Ryan and Kendall’s apartment (they moved back into their apartment by the way) that we had been wanting to go to for awhile. It is in Positos and is the only place we have seen in Montevideo that has valet parking. For my last night we just went there and hung out for awhile. I ate gnoccis at home with Maria so I didn’t eat. Instead I ordered my last drink before I go back to the states, a daquiri. I won’t be 21 for a month after I get back. After dinner at that place I just walked home and was in bed by 1:30. Which was good because I had to be up fairly early the next morning.
It’s more like I couldn’t sleep. I woke up at 6 and then for good at about 8. I got up and took a shower since I won’t be able to for the next day or so during my plane rides. Maria sat down and had breakfast with me. I am going to miss the little old lady. She got me an amazing last postre (dessert.) It had cream on the top and dulce de leche in the middle. She sat down and talked to me for a long time. Then I had to run to meet Ryan and Kendall.
This morning there was a 4th of July celebration at the American Ambassador’s house for resident Americans here. It was amazing. His house is gorgeous. It was nice to go to an American function right before I returned home. There is nothing better than seeing the American flag when abroad. Hearing the National Anthem with an American flag when you are thousands of miles away is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. Not only was that wonderful, but one of the men working at the embassy is from Waco and went to Baylor for 2 years! I talked to him for awhile and then he told me that there was a large group of students from ACU in Abilene doing a medical mission trip. He introduced me to them later and I talked to them for awhile. They will only have been here a month when they leave, but it was so ridiculous to have people from po-dung Abilene, Texas, in Montevideo, Uruguay on the last day.
Now I am sitting at the Carrascas airport in Montevideo waiting to leave for Santiago, Chile, and then go only Dallas. It was sad to leave Maria. She made me sit down and eat more before I left and talked to me for a long time. She teared up when I left and gave me plenty of besos before I got in the taxi to leave. The taxi driver told me my Uruguayan Spanish was good. Too bad it won’t help me too much in Texas! I can’t believe I am waiting for a plane to go home. I was just on my own and getting used to it here. I guess that’s life for you. Just when you get comfortable, you are thrown somewhere else. I life is a story of culture shock. Don’t feel bad for me though; it’s self imposed to be sure!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
My last day in Montevideo
My last day of Montevideo, Uruguay. It’s hard to believe. I woke up this morning for my last time to watch Dawson’s Creek at 10 a.m. over breakfast. I am hooked to that tv series now. I think I may ask for it as a present for my birthday next month.
The past few days while Jasmine and Jo have been leaving have been long, and at the same time short. Today after breakfast and packing up a little I went to have lunch with my coworkers. Every 29th of the month Uruguayans eat gnoccis. It’s the only day they are allowed to have this pasta. It was potato in the middle. It’s very good. I couldn’t eat all of mine, but my old boss decided to eat any that I had left. It would never fly in the states for a 60 year-old boss to reach over and eat your leftovers. Hilarious.
After lunch we went back to the office and took last pictures. They were all sad to see me go. One of them told me that she had always thought that North Americans were rude, cold and distant until I came along. Hearing that made my entire trip worthwhile. I was sad to tell Florencia and Valentina bye. My boss gave me a letter of completion and said that if I needed a reccomendation I could let him know anytime.
Florencia has a house at Punta del Diablo, my fav place in Uruguay. Like everyone else in this country, they told me to come back in the summer. After seeing them I was really sad and I talked to Maria for awhile. She told me that many of her past tenants have returned and I could do the same. Then she said the same thing about making sure that I come back in the summer. At least I know Valentina is coming to San Antonio at some point so I can come see her. I will still be e-mailing all my coworkers too.
Yesterday I walked around to the stadium where I have seen 2 soccer games. I never knew it before, but it is where the first World Cup game took place. That night I watched the high schoolers from the school put on a Uruguayan play in Spanish and then went home to pack the rest of the night. At least I got most of my packing done.
After lunch with my coworkers I walked along the Rambla (along the beach) with Kendall. It is sad that I will not be so close to the sea very soon. I really cannot believe that I will not be here at the same time tomorrow. It is time that I leave, but at the same time I am sad to go. I will miss the incredibly slow pace of life here and the fact that since it’s winter everyone just sits around. I am glad to not be a white ghost anymore after I tan, but I will miss it here. I will miss it a lot.
The past few days while Jasmine and Jo have been leaving have been long, and at the same time short. Today after breakfast and packing up a little I went to have lunch with my coworkers. Every 29th of the month Uruguayans eat gnoccis. It’s the only day they are allowed to have this pasta. It was potato in the middle. It’s very good. I couldn’t eat all of mine, but my old boss decided to eat any that I had left. It would never fly in the states for a 60 year-old boss to reach over and eat your leftovers. Hilarious.
After lunch we went back to the office and took last pictures. They were all sad to see me go. One of them told me that she had always thought that North Americans were rude, cold and distant until I came along. Hearing that made my entire trip worthwhile. I was sad to tell Florencia and Valentina bye. My boss gave me a letter of completion and said that if I needed a reccomendation I could let him know anytime.
Florencia has a house at Punta del Diablo, my fav place in Uruguay. Like everyone else in this country, they told me to come back in the summer. After seeing them I was really sad and I talked to Maria for awhile. She told me that many of her past tenants have returned and I could do the same. Then she said the same thing about making sure that I come back in the summer. At least I know Valentina is coming to San Antonio at some point so I can come see her. I will still be e-mailing all my coworkers too.
Yesterday I walked around to the stadium where I have seen 2 soccer games. I never knew it before, but it is where the first World Cup game took place. That night I watched the high schoolers from the school put on a Uruguayan play in Spanish and then went home to pack the rest of the night. At least I got most of my packing done.
After lunch with my coworkers I walked along the Rambla (along the beach) with Kendall. It is sad that I will not be so close to the sea very soon. I really cannot believe that I will not be here at the same time tomorrow. It is time that I leave, but at the same time I am sad to go. I will miss the incredibly slow pace of life here and the fact that since it’s winter everyone just sits around. I am glad to not be a white ghost anymore after I tan, but I will miss it here. I will miss it a lot.
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